Chapter 261
ToP24Q6The connection had been cut.DCtMf
H3ohbOvAdolf Fridian was bewildered by the sudden loss of contact.0ac1
zX8MoCWhy?wAqx
apD2Hadn’t they said they had successfully brainwashed Fernan?5ncf
mjQdThat now they could get everything they wanted?yGWr7
e8FHad something gone wrong?Pn30t
6XVHe felt confused and uneasy.h9mcuPk
tGfQxJust when he began to investigate in secret, it was publicly announced that Count Daniel was a Corrupt.YICrjN
nXgNAt that moment, Adolf Fridian felt the world crumble before his eyes.lMFWzlG
AlrIf it was revealed that Daniel was a corrupt, then he—who had been allied with him—wouldn’t come out unscathed either.cq1oh
xwCa‘Will Fridian fall because of me…?’G0X
0BHsHe didn’t care if he was the one to suffer the consequences. He knew he had done something wrong and was prepared to face punishment.wkbvpB
P6617ABut not the duchy of Fridian.Qx6Zl
Ht5Everything he had done was for the sake of Fridian, to elevate it and end discrimination—and now, because of him, he had only stained it.bI9
nKeHe had to prevent that at all costs.ynrmNKg
PNjno4No matter what.Wuh7K
l4BA22But how?VIxW
9HdXwWmHe had no contacts within the Empire.15Np21
WGoxtdShould he speak with the duke?QjS5M
ZAKvHe couldn’t. How could he confess that, despite the duke’s trust and favor, he had acted on his own, allying with a corrupt?z6kv
zEp8TX3He lived each day with his stomach clenched from anxiety until a letter arrived.MU88
gLxJl[Fridian will not be implicated, brother. Senior Fernan promised me. So you can be at ease.]obuo
Y6nJust a few lines.AhnS
4Qe9But for Adolf Fridian, it was like a journey to heaven and hell at the same time.AMz3O
6pyW“He knew everything? The brainwashing…?”isEGVw
6ytOf course it had broken. Or maybe it hadn’t worked from the beginning.UBuPM
LkYDaniel’s death proved it.5KhB04L
3T4“Damn idiot…”Kb1q
RXjA count of the Empire, a supposed corrupt who aimed to destroy the continent, and turned out to be an imbecile.40yV2
8lD0H1wHow could he have trusted someone so stupid?3ZTwqud
N9XIt was too late for regrets.oHudj
q1aU“What does that mean, Aria? That letter.”86g
b53dU2c“It’s literal, brother. They’ve decided to overlook your alliance with the corrupt. For Fridian’s sake. So please, stop doing foolish things.”X5CJW6f
NPCYe“The brainwashing…?”2yvsjGP
BIiQU“It never worked.”K5Tga1
MVI0VC“So they also knew the count was corrupt?”6PiLXG
LfvNV“Senior already knew everything.”9Npfs
pwCfI“Was Pellenberg’s intelligence network that powerful…?”G2swHhv
oToHe’d been toying with them in the palm of his hand.qWCDVCe
p4wFP1qAria insisted he trust Fernan, but Adolf couldn’t do it.pVDnuZ
ky17BIjTrust in what? In a man like Pellenberg, who could be as ruthless as necessary?FZSSX
AlFoI6Fridian and Pellenberg did maintain a relatively good relationship, yes, but Pellenberg’s sinister reputation extended throughout the Empire.YBOu
6JX“I must see him in person. I want to know what he plans to do with me and why he has spared my life.”AP5
8EOAyob“To maintain the alliance with Fridian. If it’s revealed that you’re a corrupt, Fridian would be accused of treason. That would provoke a civil war in the Empire, and that’s exactly what the demons want.”9YIN9F0
eMSHiNkThe reasoning sounded logical.ovqbEm
w9rwBut no matter how much his mind understood it, his heart couldn’t accept it.R4hb
UdaEspecially when he read the newspapers.15be
vsIJWQ“Fernan, the hunter of demons and corrupts, just leaves us alone? He could eliminate me alone, and yet he doesn’t.”iWbKy
udxvDK“Because I asked him…”QpN2
uAtyqXX“What are you, Aria? Fernan Pellenberg’s lover?”Qx3BZO
Fem8NLu“No, of course not…”bRC
oqfanKN“I’m going to ask him directly.”4fG4
ddvKWvp“Directly?”eGPNMbU
cocTmAdolf Fridian opened the newspaper.FORir1Z
iQtKQttThere it was—Rosalia Vienderk challenges in the Dragon God Tournament.TVZU
eP0W“Rosalia Vienderk’s sponsor is Fernan Pellenberg. So he will definitely come.”uD9F
RJ5x7bI’ll go find him.O62L
mnmqIUAnd I’ll get the truth out of him—what he plans to do with me.jbP
wOCH***TLO
XpqctgT“And what is this now?”gbTayJ
KcCrGOrNight had fallen and Gismond still hadn’t returned.UwE2kt
PcWfdcLooks like he’s enjoying his freedom, thought Fernan.9gzw6
cvuQHe wasn’t worried.uJFcsY
2zuThe security in Eargrath was the best on the continent. You could get drunk and pass out on the street and no one would rob you.TLcLKew
Hu0kLBh“Hehehe, Fernan! Come on, say hi! This is my new big brother!”o2E
1cLKuBut he didn’t expect to run into him the next day at the stadium entrance, in that state.sc64pWN
Vrqrj“His name is Adolf, but don’t worry, not that Adolf you’re thinking of.”gYe8R5b
n6wmT1zHe was babbling nonsense, his face red from drinking.G5mLR
AeeHcY“Have you been drinking since you woke up?”P7lEmq
OHEv2vf“Huh? No! I didn’t sleep, I drank all night. You don’t know how much I missed this! And it’s weird, I drank like crazy and still feel great!”BuJrIHR
mSQc5XbGismond puffed out his chest proudly, spouting nonsense.pFbux
wCfE“If you don’t calm down right now, you’ll regret it.”BER0
wenRTsss—hpOZrV
gUbAt that moment, the excess energy in his body evaporated like steam.swISTQ
3ddGismond’s face returned to its normal color.aJgT
zA45“Ugh…”YGSApGP
9j3BREmbarrassed, he hid behind Fernan.mPVYR
T5r5wThen Fernan turned to look at the “brother” Gismond had brought.q1UQ2
LUBE4pyUnlike him, he didn’t seem drunk.baiDci
fYO0P8W“We’ve become brothers, Lord Fernan. We had a great conversation.”Iohdh
V4ihsWhen their eyes met, Adolf tilted his head slightly with a smile.ceS
JDIqB“It’s been a while, young Fernan.”bKBTa
9rs“It has, senior Adolf.”VqSyv
vUp“Senior, huh… well, yes, I did graduate a few years earlier.”zvB
1xKngEQ“Did you come to watch the Dragon God Tournament?”oip
sF8OiMp“Among other things.”GFsSBxo
1HG20z“Among other things?”hvEqv5u
qhR“I was planning to wait for you in the VIP area, but thanks to my new younger brother, we met earlier than expected.”8cNl9JE
wWQteSo he was serious about that “brothers” thing?xfMdj
M8vjpf0“You were looking for me, then?”V7NH
N2w“Yes. Aria told me you already knew about my involvement.”Pjy
NmfrJP“Then she must’ve told you the rest as well…”SvW0oy
MtJ1If he came to ask in person, it meant he wasn’t at ease.hTZxS
g6Sh7klHe feared Fernan might use that information to blackmail or manipulate him.OAygAR
rMTrU9gAnd Fernan knew he was right.GxIHbA
WpjPGIf Daniel hadn’t tried to set a trap for Aint, he would have let him live.56f3c
LdXq2TGBut since that fool tried to assassinate him and ended up dead, Adolf Fridian was left adrift.Ad6a
dYBnDtH“For now, will you come with me?”EcuKh
WcXsFernan was VIP, so he didn’t have to wait in line. The priests guided him directly to the best seat, entering before anyone else.JeN
EaMVmThe empty seats filled quickly; the colossal stadium, with a capacity of over one hundred thousand, became a sea of people in minutes.yDhP32
MAWlRJShortly after, the stars of the day finally appeared—the two great mages.iTg1
5fzjHcUp to that point, Fernan hadn’t said a single word.L9HogE2
2mZNAdolf remained tense, his heart pounding hard.IqyS4NB
ODeEach second felt like a minute.n6vb7nR
BLrbi6“From the moment I met Professor Rosalia to seeing her up there…”JIqpw
pX0XgFernan picked a fruit from the VIP guest platter a perfectly ripe golden melon.dJkjrpl
6iRAhDR“Do you know how many years have passed?”v4b1Zf5
2Q2bYdAdolf didn’t know. He had no way of knowing exactly when they had met.F4hWX
kdxYLuckily, Fernan wasn’t expecting an answer.Xsg5
dWZmU“It’s been quite a few. I invested a lot of time and money, and finally the fruits have started to ripen.”nnD
cV1tDHe paused briefly.R4fL
1ms“But even so, even if I invested, none of it would’ve been possible without her talent and determination. It was the synergy between the two of us that brought us here.”5AgpX
OEroLzThough, to be fair, it might still be too early to talk about results.bFG5x
sIH73k“Even so, I have no doubt that Professor Rosalia will become the new Archmage.”vbTsvmy
HiSFernan smiled, and Adolf didn’t quite understand what he was trying to say.h94
6HRC6“This is the kind of faith I mean.”rSdx
7nf“What do you mean by that?”h21eOzF
rs8“Just like Professor Rosalia will take the title of Archmage to the end. Just like Aint Armian rose as a hero.”lcwA
XFJqFernan rested his chin on his hand.bLPBV
4eZQl“Do you have that same value, senior? Could you bloom the same way?”779dj48
udep2sCould I gain something more valuable from you than simply disposing of you as a corrupt?9WUkNqv
8XNr1sVIf so—Zia
SEikn“I could help you achieve your ideal.”QdjBP
WOcA“My ideal…”km3Bc8O
BLtqZAdolf’s ideal—for elves to no longer be discriminated against and to be accepted as true members of the Empire.fBd
euWoBut.sIjRM2
9M2Y“Could I…?”YT5T0
gZkv40DHis gaze fixed on the field.6HKU5
HWmAnd in that instant—tL8lr
GLq─────!g9nKj
MHV2rCFire and ice clashed violently.jukiaK
RsEuFioThe duel had begun.wCt
Jz4***61K
TQ1SNjIt was the stage she had longed for so deeply.DYYqZ
i1vOznAAnd yet, Rosalia felt surprisingly calm—even to herself.mJj
cgZNuF0‘Is it because I always knew this would happen?’wfSC7fY
HAU6lggShe knew that one day she’d be on this stage.EHh
eS9She knew she’d claim the title of Archmage.G5d11
mS5mTUFrom the moment she made that decision, she never doubted.nhaf1Ux
IHOShe never thought she’d fail, never thought she’d lose.nm0Vs
goaCNmMaybe that’s why she wasn’t surprised—because for her, the result was natural.DpD2
gR9Fwoosh—!0apkwl
13hjqOWSsshhh—!NEfWqx
z45uDUFire and ice devoured each other, releasing steam into the air.bUnyEE
YN0XYRMagic circles rose in every direction.SbB5q
RXSd3The clash between opposite elements was simple—no need for strategy or trickery, just pure power.sp05gU
fKGimMana versus mana.8q3
VJUaGOtThe greater devoured the lesser.16v
JIZxCTThe more refined pierced the cracks of the coarser.yXtPkx
hVoThat’s why she was calm.vwSA
hSGf0She had drunk Fernan’s potions like water.ppqiml
PZMhThe youngest professor in the Academy’s history, and now on the verge of also becoming the youngest Archmage—she couldn’t afford to lose in precision or technique.fp90
UN0Some would say it was arrogance, that such pride would lead to defeat.b4R3Fs
JGFIKrBut confidence backed by skill isn’t arrogance—it’s pure conviction.PHm1bpN
HC3─!qXn
sBlXqr─!xJa
ooBT3cFire and ice intertwined relentlessly.RGAc05u
5WbR4hThe undissipated heat made the barriers protecting the stands vibrate; shards of ice clashed repeatedly.s0paC
8IKxvXEven so, the shield created by the first Pope and reinforced by his successors held strong.z8Qbq8E
9Rn9U07Unlike duels between knights or mixed battles, the two mages didn’t move a single step.Wtkoa
96X9TRTheir spells grew in size, strength, and violence.GLLAa
6rTlThe ground alternated between rivers of lava and glaciers.v5Nk2wD
4b5Vb─!T0kRT
VBR──!QmiML
FbIU8The spectacle was so dazzling that the crowd roared in excitement.itSZ
BGZXaThe stadium didn’t break, but the magnitude of the magic was so apocalyptic that the very air trembled.bCy5NkI
WKroYr“This is what the Dragon God Tournament is all about!”9dZ4U7E
h7kt“If this were a normal city, it’d be in ruins.”uwYmUp
NTcov2G“Who’s going to win? They seem evenly matched.”RH8M8zM
8ropX“Obviously Bador Erbeto. Rosalia Vienderk may be a genius, but she’s still way too young.”ZEy
rZw2Rosalia hadn’t even turned thirty yet.URCM0rQ
2MrShe had proven her brilliance by becoming the youngest professor in Academy history and earning the right to challenge for the title of Archmage, but many still doubted her victory.Bx2545O
QVc9A7AAmong them, Adolf Fridian.CX5E
YwQ“Lord Fernan, do you really believe Professor Rosalia can become an Archmage?”Re4
FkwIr“Of course. I don’t invest in anything that has no future, and everything I invest in shines in the end.”BgL
fG3Rosalia Vienderk was his most special project—the person in whom he had invested the most time and money.URnd
W2Z3HHer goal wasn’t to remain a professor, nor even just become an Archmage, or even rector of the Academy.KvU9g
gcUKShe aimed far higher.AMnb
4fKCvThat’s why she couldn’t fall here.eHCTU
tHq“Then, did you say all that because you think I have that same potential?”r3opBs
BUzm46f“I was the one asking the question, senior.”1MGygrd
aZgK“I don’t know. I’ve dreamed of becoming the greatest knight, but the title of Royal Knight isn’t won by will alone.”ZRXhoW
0M0QThat’s why he made that deal with the corrupt.ylHVFzs
ZMVfWasn’t it natural to bet on the side with the highest chances?uTrcyY
F71rIf he’d been sure he could become a Royal Knight, he’d never have sought out the corrupt.aN0sW
H5WEaV“If I had succeeded, I’d have engraved the name of Fridian in history.”2XNd2X
8gyrAt that moment, Fernan and Gismond let out a slight sigh, as if a memory had slipped into their minds.QzH
pmb1【“So envious… to be a Royal Knight at that age.”kseFGS
HJCPtqThe land, devastated. An elf corrupted by cursed magic wept blood.c6PEA4
5sOiMGa“Do you regret it now? Because of you, the Empire was split! Do you know how many died to stop your rebellion?”82VNE
unoPAint shouted, full of fury.SvVb3f
YBsPc6“You should thank Aria. If it weren’t for her, Fridian would have disappeared from this world.”Ofxg
zdVrpI“Do you think I wanted this?”52qgxr
fdVDo you think I wanted it?PIlQyE
XucZ“If the elves hadn’t been oppressed! If I’d had power like yours! If I’d had your talent!”MwC4r5r
jqdbyThen I would have been a Royal Knight.EFAvgt
nqX“I would have raised Fridian to the heavens! Do you know what it feels like, to be trampled and despised for centuries until you can’t take it anymore?”062DON
sHIBT“How ridiculous.”wNWtOV
eF1Aint smiled coldly.7fUhe
KMXP“Aria chose a different path. That’s why Fridian was improving. If it weren’t for you…”9xJ
PapqAnd then he added.U1OZXf
qzeZ“You say you didn’t have the talent to be a Royal Knight? No. If you had kept training, if you hadn’t been tempted by the corrupt, you would’ve achieved it someday.”iSx
rSoBecause the first Royal Knight said so.”】4Aky
qqdX“If he’s Aria’s cousin, then he’s also like a brother to me. I’ll call you brother from now on.”1XFj
9ZeFernan shook Adolf’s hand.lEA
W84And at that very moment—SQ3h
aPNAPT─────!vH9
Oqwg2tA massive explosion shook the entire stadium.8jXA4
3GQvdThe roar and shockwave made the barriers tremble as if they were about to shatter.s4O2JvW
n4QkWhen the steam completely cleared—x8rh
NaQk“R-Rosalia Vienderk has won!”SEc
Icc“A new Archmage is born!”3ni
ltT4j“My money!”mnvC1Kx
NmlxC6BBefore the completely frozen body of Duke Bador Erbeto, everyone understood that a new era had begun.qyIJp
iLI“……”mzIb5F
hmiVThe victor didn’t raise her hand or proclaim her victory.j3zybf
6wShRosalia slowly turned toward the VIP booth.FJtUtmT
4r5JzFernan.JARvzdf
61HDShe wanted to tell him proudly:lm1ThK
jSWBkYour investment wasn’t in vain.hr5vrx
mY0I am Rosalia Vienderk, the woman who accomplishes everything she sets out to do.a3AzC
PJt“…What is he doing?”AtJu
r9gBut Fernan wasn’t looking at her.W2mR6eB
6FuaHe wasn’t congratulating her.pRWLN8W
F88eHe was holding hands with an elf, talking nonstop.sNykUG3
h99hRosalia knew that expression well, that look.rPZLsxA
wCXYeSL“…You got caught, huh?”RHD
3AkWhoever it was, they weren’t going to escape Fernan’s grasp easily.Si7
otwEven so, no matter how “juicy” the prey, to get distracted at this moment—scKf
EznG“You’re shameless, Fernan Pellenberg.”Zejh
1wpRosalia’s lip curled in irritation.aC3F
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